Frost Damage on Hosta

A few clear, cold nights in May have caused widespread frost and freeze damage to hosta in the Viette garden. The damage is evident as sort of a "melting" of the foliage.

Not only does this look ugly in the garden, but it also becomes a pathway for disease to enter the plant. The freezing physically "breaks" the cells leaving a wound (sort of similar to a scratch on your skin) which is susceptible to invasion but many different fungal diseases.

What can you do?

The best solution to frost or freeze damage on hosta is to completely cut off the damaged leaves.

If the damage is widespread, you may have to shear the whole clump back to the ground. Not to worry though, the foliage will flush back out, although it might not grow back quite as large as the original clump.

Other perennials that were damaged during our late spring frost should also be cut back to remove damaged foliage.